TAG: How to properly jump start a car

Ever found yourself stranded in a parking lot or, worse yet, on the side of the road with a dead battery? That click – click – click sound is one you never forget after you hear it the first time! It’s one of the worst feelings! It’s even worse if you’re alone for the first time and don’t know how to jumpstart your car. Let’s say you find someone nice enough to help. But what if they’re just nice and have no clue what they’re doing?!

 

First things first, always make sure you have a set of jumper cables in your car. It’s easier to find someone who has a car and is willing to help. When you’re stranded without jumper cables, you will never find someone who is willing to help AND has jumper cables. It never fails!

Second of all, you may want to invest in a portable Jump Starter. They’re often referred to as Battery Boosters, Emergency Boosters, Boost Starters, Portable Battery Jumpers, etc. as well. You can use it anywhere and it substitutes another vehicle’s battery in the jump starting process. You do have to recharge it after you use it, so make sure to do so. If you keep a dead Jump Starter in your car it will do you no good!

 

How To Properly Jumpstart A Car

A few warnings before you try to Jumpstart your vehicle:

    • Always check your battery first. If it’s damaged, leaking, or even corroded then you need to call an auto shop. You should NOT attempt to jump start your vehicle if your battery is damaged.
    • Clear any metal from the area around the battery. This could potentially cause a spark and be dangerous.
    • Do not smoke and avoid any flames during the Jumpstart process.
    • Make sure all the electronics in your vehicle are off–your key should not be in the ignition.

 

Jumpstarting a Car Using Jump Leads

  • Park both cars beside each other so that they’re close, but not touching, and keep them in neutral. Your jump lead should be able to easily reach both vehicles.
  • Connect the RED positive lead to the positive terminal on the battery of the working vehicle.
  • Then do the same for the battery of the vehicle that is NOT starting.
  • Connect the BLACK negative lead to the negative terminal on the battery of the working vehicle.
  • Then, on the vehicle that is NOT starting, attach the other end of the BLACK negative lead to a metal (earthing) point. Check your handbook to see if your vehicle has a negative jump-starting pole.
  • Make sure your jump leads are not in the way of a moving part of the engine.
  • Start the engine of the working car.
  • Let the working car run for about a minute, to transfer power, and then try to start the car with the dead battery.
    • If it doesn’t start, let it stay hooked up to the working car for a few more minutes, but make sure your lead doesn’t get too hot. If it does, take a break!
  • Once the car with the dead battery starts, let it stay hooked up to the running car for a few minutes to charge up the battery.
  • After a few minutes, remove the jumper leads in the reverse order that you applied them.
    • Make sure they don’t touch any metal surfaces or each other!
  • Lastly, after you’ve had to jump your vehicle, you want to drive it around for at least 30 minutes, or leave the engine running for that amount of time. That way your car can recharge the battery fully!

Unfortunately, if a jump won’t start you car, you may have a bigger problem and will need to call an auto shop!

Don’t consider yourself car savvy? Bookmark this post on your cellphone. Or you can print out this article and keep it in your car, then you’ll never find yourself stranded with no idea how to get your car back on the road again!

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CategoryVehicle Safety
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